Sporting Clube de Portugal have announced that incoming Manchester City sporting director Hugo Viana has left the club.

Viana will be taking over from Txiki Begiristain at the end of the season but will now start doing some work with City following the conclusion of the transfer window before taking on the role at the Etihad after the Club World Cup. It's hoped that by working together with Begiristain now, it will be a smooth transition.

A statement released by Sporting on Tuesday morning read: "Sporting Clube de Portugal – Futebol, SAD informs that Hugo Viana requested his departure from the Club to be brought forward, initially scheduled for the end of the current sporting season. Sporting Clube de Portugal – Futebol, SAD further informs that, taking into account the arguments presented and by mutual understanding, the sporting director of Sporting CP ceased his duties after the closure of the winter market.

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"Hugo Viana played a fundamental role in the Club's sporting growth during a period in which Sporting CP's main football team won several titles: two National Championships, three League Cups, a Super Cup and a Portuguese Cup.

Sporting CP president Frederico Varandas said: "Hugo Viana's work over these years was fundamental to the implementation of a solid and winning sporting project. He played a crucial role in building a team that broke barriers and marked one of the most memorable phases in the recent history of our Club."

Viana took over at Sporting in 2018 and oversaw countless transfer windows. In what was his final window in Lisbon, the 42-year-old worked closely with new manager Rui Borges, bringing in two reinforcements as they continue to lead the Liga Portugal and are six points clear of second-placed Benfica.